Budget Troubles for UCLA

Losses on the football field and basketball court were only part of the problem for UCLA last year.

With California in dire financial straits, the university’s athletic department was hit by funding cuts and increased costs, which contributed to its first budget deficit in a decade.

Bruin teams operated at a loss of almost $164,000 in 2003-04, according to a report all colleges released Friday.

The news was better at USC, which balanced its budget for the second year in a row and repaid some internal debts from previous years.

The Trojan football team got much of the credit, generating $26.2 million in ticket sales, television appearances and a major bowl game payout.

As Athletic Director Mike Garrett put it earlier this season: “Football is king.”

UCLA got less help from its teams. Part of its shortfall could be blamed on $1.1 million in buyouts to fired coaches.

But the Bruins also faced a 32% increase in tuition and fees on campus, which meant the athletic department paid $800,000 more for scholarships.

With budgets tightened all around, athletics received about $900,000 less than expected in student registration fees.

“It’s going to be a challenging situation for the next few years to come,” said Petrina Long, an associate athletic director.

UCLA and USC released their budgets in accordance with the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act of 1994, which seeks to ensure colleges are progressing toward compliance with gender equity laws.

The goal is for athletic participation to mirror the student body. In that way, both universities took small steps backward.

In 2003-04, women accounted for 56% of UCLA’s undergraduate students and 51.2% of its athletes, down from 52.6%. Women accounted for 50.5% of USC’s undergrads and 46.1% of athletes, down from 47.2%.

The reports also offered details on how the athletic departments conducted their business.

At UCLA, football generated $17.2 million against $11.5 million in expenses. Men’s basketball generated $7.4 million and spent $4 million.

All other men’s teams brought in $987,907 and spent $4.2 million. Women’s teams brought in $789,704 and spent $8.3 million.

At USC, football brought in $26.2 million and spent $15.3 million.

Men’s basketball broke even at $3.1 million.

All other men’s teams brought in $1.2 million and spent $5.2 million.

Women’s teams generated $762,474 and spent $8.9 million.